GALLES SCORES FIRST TRANS-AM WIN ON THE STREETS OF LONG BEACH


LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 14, 1996) -- Jamie Galles, driving the
ICI/Glidden Chevrolet Camaro, scored his first career Trans-Am win at
the OPTIMA Batteries Trans-Am Classic, part of the Toyota Grand Prix of
Long Beach. Scott Sharp, in the Rain-X Oil Energizer Camaro, finished
second and Dorsey Schroeder, in the Raybestos Ford Mustang Cobra,
finished third.

Galles, of Albuquerque, N.M., started the 58-lap, 92.22-mile race in
seventh and steadily progressed toward the front as mechanical problems
plagued the early race leaders.

"The car was really there today," said Galles. "I ran pretty much as
hard as I could for the entire race. I knew Tommy (Kendall) was on
softer tires (Kendall started on the softer Goodyear 210 tires on the
front of his car to Galles' 430 tires) and I thought I could let the
race come back to me -- and it did."

The race's early battle was between Schroeder, Paul Gentilozzi, in the
HighwayMaster Camaro and Kendall, in the All Sport Body Quencher Mustang
Cobra. Gentilozzi passed Schroeder for the lead on lap 10 but suffered
a broken suspension component three laps later, giving the lead back to
Schroeder.

After holding off second-place Kendall for eight laps, Schroeder was
passed as the cars went through turn six, putting fastest-qualifier
Kendall at the front of a six-car pack consisting of Kendall, Schroeder,
Galles, Sharp, Johnny O'Connell, in the Gloy Racing Mustang Cobra and
Brian Simo, in the Valvoline Mustang Cobra.

Kendall was dominant until the late going while Schroeder continued to
fall back, pitting on lap 44 for one tire during one of the race's three
full course cautions as Galles moved up into second and Sharp advanced
to third. When the field went green five laps later, Galles was pressing
hard on Kendall, who fell to Galles' charge on lap 55 as the duo dove
into turn one. Kendall continued in second until a broken motor stopped
him on the main straight on the final lap, in sight of the finish stand,
ending his day in seventh.

A late-race caution for a multi-car incident assured Galles his first
series' victory as the field took the checkered flag under caution. The
win was also Chevrolet's first at Long Beach, while the second-place
effort by Sharp was the two-time Trans-Am Champion's first podium finish
since 1993.

"It was a tough race," said Sharp. "We've been struggling and we haven't
had the time to do the testing and development that is needed at this
level of racing. I had to be really smooth, and hope my car faded less
than the other cars as the race went on."

Galles earned the DynoMax Turn On The Power Award for his race-winning
effort, while O'Connell earned the Rising Star of the Race Award for his
fifth-place finish, coming in his Trans-Am debut. Mark Pielsticker, in
the Performance Plus Camaro, earned the OPTIMA Batteries Quick Charger
Award after advancing 11 positions to finish 12th.

With the win, Galles moves into the lead in the Drivers' Championship
point standings with 75, followed by Schroeder 71; Kendall, 69; Ron
Fellows, 66 (Fellows suffered mechanical difficulties and dropped out
of the race after three laps, finishing 22nd after starting third); and
Sharp, 65.

After three races, Chevrolet leads the Manufacturers' Championship point
standings 25 to 21 over rival Ford.
     

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Results from Sunday's 58-lap, 92.22-mile OPTIMA Batteries
Tarns-Am Classic at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, with finishing
position, starting
position in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, laps and reason out.
 1, (7), Jamie Galles, Albuquerque, N.M., Chevy Camaro, 58.
 2, (9), Scott Sharp, Danville, Calif., Chevy Camaro, 58.
 3, (4), Dorsey Schroeder, Osage Beach, Mo., Ford Mustang, 58.
 4, (12), Brian Simo, Carlsbad, Calif., Ford Mustang, 58.
 5, (8), Johnny O'Connell, Chandler, Ariz., Ford Mustang, 58.
 6, (11), Greg Pickett, Alamo, Calif., Chevy Camaro, 58.
 7, (1), Tom Kendall, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Ford Mustang, 57, Mech.
 8, (20), R.J. Valentine, Hingham, Mass., Chevy Camaro, 57.
 9, (14), Jon Gooding, Longwood, Fla., Ford Mustang, 57.
10, (16), Steve Hodge, Hillsboro, Ore., Chevy Camaro, 57.
11, (13), Dale Phelon, San Juan Puerto Rico, , Ford Mustang, 55, Crash.
12, (23), Mark Pielsticker, Oakland, Calif., Chevy Camaro, 55.
13, (10), Bill Saunders, Dallas, Texas, Chevy Camaro, 53.
14, (26), Jim Maguire, Glendale, Ariz., Chevy Camaro, 52.
15, (15), Dino Crescentini, Brentwood, Calif., Chevy Camaro, 49, Trans..
16, (22), Bob Ruman, Munroe Falls, Ohio, Chevy Camaro, 42, Mech.
17, (5), Tony Ave, Indianapolis, Ind., Ford Mustang, 36, Mech.
18, (24), John W. Miller IV, Johnson City, Tenn., Chevy Camaro, 31, Ignition.
19, (18), Mike Berg, Downey, Calif., Chevy Camaro, 23, Mech.
20, (2), Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., Chevy Camaro, 14, Susp.
21, (21), Peter Shea, Irvine, Calif., Chevy Camaro, 4, Crash.
22, (3), Ron Fellows, Toronto,  Canada, Chevy Camaro, 3, Engine.
23, (6), Boris Said.III, Carlsbad, Calif., Ford Mustang, 3, Crash.
24, (19), Michael Lewis, San Diego, Calif., Ford Mustang, 1, Crash.
25, (25), Tom Beattie, Fullerton, Calif., Chevy Camaro, 0, Mech.
26, (17), Ray Kong, San Jose, Calif., Chevy Camaro, 0, D.N.S..
 
Time of race: 1 hours,  9 minutes,  53.765 seconds.
Average speed: 79.163 miles-per-hour
Margin of victory: 1.1959 seconds (under caution)
Lap leaders: laps 1-8, Ave; laps 9-11, Schroeder; laps 12-13, Gentilozzi; laps
14-20,
Schroeder; laps 21-54, Kendall; laps 55-58, Galles.
Fastest race lap: Tom Kendall, 1:02.427 (91.691 mph)